Regulating system



Jan- 18, 1949- s. B. GRlscoM r-:T AL 2,459,640

REGULATING SYSTEM Filed June 2, 1947 ATTORN Patented Jan. 18, 1949 REGULATING SYSTEM Samuel B. Griscom and Raymond L. Witzke,

Pittsburgh, Pa.,

assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 2, 1947, Serial No. '751,810

(Cl. S22-24) '7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to regulating systems.

An object of this invention is to provide a regulating system -for adynamo-electric machine.

Another object of this invention Iis to provide a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine in which .provision is made for insuring minimum excitation of the machine.

A more specic object of this invention is the provision, in a regulating system for a dynamoelectric machine having a voltage reference network for directionally controlling a self-excited exciter in response to load conditions, for .moditying the operation of the Voltage reference network to insure a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electric machine.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus and circuits embodying the teachings of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of another em.- bodiment of this invention, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of apparatus and Lcircuits constituting another embodiment of the teachings of this invention.

Referring to the drawing and, in particular, to Fig. l thereof, there is illustrated a dynamoelectric machine I0, such as a generator or the like, for supplying a load represented by line conductors l2, I4 and I6. The generator I6 comprises the armature windings lil connected to the line conductors I2, I4 and I6 and a field winding 20. The eld winding 20 is connected across the armature windings 22 of the main exciter 24, a. resistor 26 being connected across the field winding 20, the purpose of which will be explained more Afully hereinafter. The main exciter 24 is also provided with a eld winding 28, the energization of which is controlled by a pilot exciter 30.

In the embodiment illustrated, the pilot exciter 3l is of the self-excited or series-tuned type which normally operates along the linear part oi its saturation curve. The exciter 39 is provided with a series field winding 32 for normally supplying the majority of the excitation re'^\"ements, yand a shunt field winding 34 for plying the remainder of the excitation of the eX- citer, and a control iicld winding 36 disposed to be directionaliy energized in respons-e to the operation of the generator Il), the excitation of which is `controlled by the main exciter 2li.

As illustrated, the series eld winding 32 is lll connected in series circuit between the armature windings 38 of the pilot exciter 30 and the field windings 28 of the main exciter 24. An adjustable resistor 40 is connected in circuit relation with the shunt lield winding 34 for purposes of adjusting the degree of energization thereof. The series field winding 32 and the shunt neld winding 34 of the pilot exciter 30 may be cumulative with the series iield winding 32 providing slightly less than required sustaining field strength, and the shunt iield winding 34 being only strong enough for adjusting the self-excitation field strength to compensate for manufacturing differences and installation adjustments or the like. On the other hand, the shunt iield windings 34 may be wound to oppose the series field windings 32 where the windings 32 supply slightly more than required sustaining field strength.

As illustrated, the control field winding 36 is connected through a voltage reference network 42 and a potential transformer 44 to be supplied in accordance with the line voltage. The voltage reference network 42 illustrated is of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application, Serial No. 567,256, filed December 8, 1944, now Patent No. 2,428,566, issued October 7, 1947, by E. L. Harder et al. and comprises a non-linear impedance circuit 48 connected through conductors 50 and 52 to be simultaneously energized from the transformer 44 in accordance with the line Voltage. The non-linear impedance circuit 46 and the linear impedance circuit 48 are connected to rectiflers 54 and 56, respectively, the output terminals of the rectlfying units being connected in series circuit relation with each other through suitable series connected resistors and series connected smoothing reactors. An insulating transformer 58 is illustrated as connected in the supply of the linear impedance circuit 48.

The control field winding 36 of the pilot exciter 30 is connected across the direct current series circuit connecting the rectifier units 54 and 56 at points 6U and 62, which for a predetermined line voltage are at zero potential. The impedance elements of the non-linear impedance circuit 46 and of the linear impedance circuit 48 have intersecting impedance characteristics and as the line voltage or generator terminal voltage uctuates from a predetermined value which is to be maintained, the current drawn by the circuits varies with the result that an unbalanced condition between the output of the rectifying ,units 54 and 56 occurs and the control eld winding '.36 isenergized in one or the other directions,

depending upon the output of the unbalanced condition.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, in order to modify the operation of the voltage reference network 42, a saturable core reactor 64 is disposed with its alternating current windings Et connected across the conductors 50 and 52 which supply the voltage reference network. In this embodiment, a reactor 68 is preferably connected in series circuitl in the conductor 52 for cooperating with the saturable core reactor $4 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

In order to control the saturation of the saturable core reactor E4, a direct current control winding is disposed on the middle leg of the reactor and is connected in circuit relation with two sources of direct current voltage. One of the terminals of the direct current control winding 10 is connected to an output terminal 'l2 of a measuring network 14, the other terminal of the direct current control winding 'lll being connected through terminal 7E, a section of resistor 26 and the adjustable tap 78 to the other output terminal 80 of the measuring network 74. Thus, the section of the resistor 2G connected in circuit relation with the direct current control winding 'l0 of reactor 64 provides a source of direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine I0.

The other source of direct current voltage forA controlling the energization of the direct current control winding of the reactor t4 is represented as the output terminals 'l2 and 89 of the measuring network 14 and is supplied by the full wave rectifying unit 82, the output terminals of which are connected to terminals 'i2 and 333. As illustrated, one of the input terminals of the rectifying unit 82 is connected through an adjustable tap 84, a section of resistor 86 and the secondary winding of the potential transformer 44 to the other input terminal of the rectifying unit 82. The resistor 8E is connected across current transformers 88 and 90 which are disposed in inductive relation with the line conductors I4 and I2, respectively. so that a current flows through the resistor 85 which is a measure of the generator current. The voltage appearing across the resistor 86 is in phase with the voltage across the transformer 44 when the generator output is at unity power factor.

Thus, a voltage is impressed across the rectifying unit 82 which is a composite of the generator terminal voltage as represented by the potential across the secondary windings of transformer 44 and a potential drop which is a measure of the generator current as represented by the potential across the section of resistor 8B which is connected in circuit relation with the rectifyin-g unit 82. The resultingr direct current voltage from the rectifying unit 82 as measured across terminals 12 and 8!! is an approximation of the watt output of the generator l D. In practice, this approximation is .found to so closely follow the watt output that for purposes of this invention such direct current voltage can be taken as a measure of the watt output of the dynamo-electric machine l0. The capacitor 92 and inductor 94 connected across the rectifying unit 82 are for purposes of smoothing any ripple which may occur in the rectied voltage in accordance with well known practice.

The two sources of direct current voltage just described and which are utilized for controlling the energization of the direct current control winding 'l0 of the reactor 64 are of opposite polarity, it being noted that when the direct current voltage appearing across the section of resistor 25 connected between terminal 715 and tap T8 predominates over the direct current voltage across terminals 'l2 and 83, current does not flow in. the direct current control winding 7E! since the rectifying unit 82 eiectively blocks such flow of current. On the other hand, if the directeurrent voltage appearing across terminals l2 and 8U of the measuring network i4 predominates over the direct current voltage across the section of resistor 26 connected between terminal l5 and tap it, current will ilow from the positive terminal of the rectifying unit 82 through the inductor Sil, terminal 8U, tap 18, a section of resistor 26, terminal 'I6 and direct current control winding 'lE to the terminal l2 and the negative terminal of the rectifying unit 82 to effect the energization of the direct current control winding l0. t

In operation, assuming that the generator l0 and the main exciter 24 and pilot exciter 30 are being driven by some suitable means (not shown) for supplying power at a constant Voltage to a load (not shown), the windings 32 and 3d of the tuned pilot exciter 3B are sulcient for normally maintaining the excitation of the main exciter 2li and, consequently, the generator or dynamoelectric machine Hl to maintain constant voltage across the line conductors I2, E4 and l5. As the non-linear impedance circuit it and the linear impedance circuit t8 of the voltage reference network d2 are so selected that at the predetermined line voltage which is to be maintained the circuits 45 and 48 have intersecting impedance characteristics and the voltages across rectifying units 54 and 56 and at the points 6@ and 52 are equal, a voltage does not appear across the control eld winding 35.

If during normal operation of the system the line voltage should increase from the predetermined value, then the non-linear impedance circuit i6 draws more current than the linear impedance circuit 4B and the output voltages across the rectifyingI units 54 and 55 are unbalanced. With such an unbalanced condition, the larger potential across the rectifying unit 56 effects a voltage drop across the control iield winding 3S in a direction to produce an action to oppose the excitation of the field windings 32 and 34 to decrease the output of the pilot exciter 3l) and, conscquently. decrease the excitation of the main exciter 24 with a corresponding decrease in eX- citation of the generator Hi to return the line voltage to the predetermined value.

If the chan-ge in the line voltage is a decrease, then the linear impedance circuit L38 draws more current than the non-linear impedance circuit 46 with the result that the potentials at terminals Bt and 62 become so unbalanced as to effect a Voltage drop acrossl the control eld winding 36 in a direction to produce an action to aid the eld windings 32 and 34 to increase the excitation of the tuned pilot exciter 3l! and thereby eiect an increase in the excitation of the main exciter 24 with a resulting increase in the excitation of the generator Hl to maintain the line Voltage at its predetermined value.

The foregoing description of the operation of the regulating system is for a normal operation of the system, wherein the excitation of the generator l!! is maintained at a value above a predetermined minimum excitation. If in the operations just described, the voltage across the generator eld 20 is increased with the result that the direct Acurrent voltage appearing across terminal 16 and tap 18 of the resistor 26 is increased to .al value 'in -excess of the direct current voltage appearing across terminals 'l2 and '80 which is a measure or an approximation of the watt output ofthe generator I0, then the measuring network 14 has no effect on the control of the excitationof the pilotgenerator 30 since the rectifying unit M of the measuring network '14 effectively blocks the ow of current resulting from Asuch differential between the two sources of direct current voltage and current fails to flow in the direct current control winding 10 of the saturable reactor 64.

Ifduring the normal operation of the system, the voltage across the control field winding 2li o'f the vgenerator l0 should decrease to a value where the voltage drop between the terminal 16 and tap 18 across the section of resistor 26 is be low the value of the direct current voltage across the terminals 12 and 80, then as a result of the differential -of the two direct current voltages, current ows through the direct current control winding 16 of the reactor 64 to effect a lowering of the alternating current impedance of the alternating current winding 66 of the reactor 64. The reactor 64 thus cooperates with the series connected reactor 68 to effectively lower the voltage supplied to the voltage reference network 42l As the input to the non-linear impedance circuit 46 and to the :linear impedance circuit 48 has thus changed by reason of the decrease in the voltage across the supply to the respective circuits, the voltage across the rectifyng units 54 and 56 is so varied that it tends to vary or change the current .flowing through the control field winding 36 in a direction to produce `or modify the action thereof to aid the action of .thewindings 32 4and y34 to effectively increase the excitation of the pilot generator 30. By thus increasing the excitation `of the pilot generator 3D, the output thereof is increased to effect an increase kin the excitation of the main generator 34 `with a corresponding increase Vin excitation ofthe generator ID to 'such an extent `that a predetermined minimum excitation ofthe iield winding 2U is maintained. It will be appreciated ythat `the action of the :reactor 64 is superimposed upon the normal functioning of the voltage reference network f4! so that where the normal operation of the network 42 `in response to a change in line voltage is to effect either an increase or decrease in the excitation ofthe pilot exciter 30, the effect of the modification is vadditive thereto -to further increase'the excitation of the pilot exciter 30 or to so modify the decreasing effect as to insure that a minimum excitation of the generator l is maintained.

In *the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the reactor-64 is connected only-ln the linear impedance circuit 48 whereby only the linear impedance circuit 48 is modied in response to the differential of 'the two direct current voltages as `the excitation of the field winding of the generator .ID is decreased `to or below the predetermined minimum excitation value. Thus, the alternating current windings 66 of the reactor 64 are connected di rectly across the linear impedance circuit so that when the direct current control winding of the reactor 64 is energized, such as when the direct current voltage across terminals 'l2 and 60 of .the measuring circuit 1-4 predominates over the meas; ure of the -voltageacrosstheeld winding .20., the

alternating current impedance .of 'the winding `66" decreases and the linear velement in the linear impedance circuit 48 draws more current with the result that the voltage across the rectifying unit 56 increases with respect to the voltage across the rectifying unit 54. By thus changing the relation of the voltages across the rectifying units 54 and 56, the voltage reference network functions `to change the flow of current in the control eld winding 36 in a direction to aid the action of the control field windings 32 and 34 to effectively increase the excitation of the pilot exciter 30 and thereby increase the excitation of the generator I0 to at least the predetermined minimum value.

As will be appreciated, if the modifying eiect of the reactor 64 is superimposed on the linear impedance circuit 48 while the voltage reference network 42 is operating to correct for an increase in line voltage, then the reactor 54 functions to decrease the differential between the voltages across rectifying units 54 and 56 so that the opposing action of the control field winding 36 to the excitation of the field windings 32 and 34 is' decreased somewhat so that, in eiiect, the excitation of the pilot exciter 30 is increased to the extent of the modication due to the action of the reactor 64.

On the other hand, if the regulator 64 is energized when the voltage reference network 42 .is operating to correct Afor a decrease in line voltage, then the modifying action of the reactor A64 is additive to the action of the linear impedance circuit 48 whereby the differential in voltages across the rectifying units 54 and 56 is increased and the voltage drop across the control field winding 36 is increased to produce a larger action to aid the field windings 32 and 34 to increase the excitation of the pilot exciter 30 and effectively increase the excitation of the generator I0 to a value above the predetermined minimum excitation value.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 is somewhat similar to that of Fig. 2, except that the alternatinrr current windings 66 of the saturable core reactor 64 are connected across the non-linear impedance circuit 46 to modify the `action of only that circuit as opposed to the linear impedance circuit 48. Thus, the direct current control winding 1D of the reactor 64 is energized, the reactor 64 draws more current vso that the voltage drop across 'the reactor 164 increases with the result that the voltage across the rectifying unit 54 decreases with respect to the potential across the rectifying unit 56 of the measuring network 42. In such instances the normal operation of the reactor 64 is to yeiiect a voltage drop across the control field winding 36 of the pilot exciter 39 in a direction to produce an action to aid the iield windings 32 and 34 to increase the excitation of the pilot exciter 3i) and thereby effectively increase .the excitation of the generator Hl to a value at least above the predetermined minimum excitation' value.

The modifying action of the reactor 54 in thisv embodiment is superimposed upon the normal functioning of the voltage reference network 42 as described hereinbeore with respect to the embodiment oi Fig. 2 so that regardless of the normal operation of the unmodified network 42 in response to a change in line voltage, the reactor 64 functions to,v in effect, tend to increase the excitation of `the pilot exciter 30 lwhen the'r direct lcurrent control Winding "l0 is energized because of thediierential of the direct current voltages described hereinbefore.

' In each of the embodiments described, the system is very sensitive to changes in `the eld voltage of the gen-erator I D and as to the watt output therefrom for effecting a modification in the operation of the voltage reference network to insure correct operation of the pilot exciter @d to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the generator I9. The systems described are eicient in operation and are formed of standard components and can be readily duplicated. The minimum excitation featurev included in the regulating system shown and described provides an eiicient control of the operation of the dynamo-electric machine.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply -a load circuit, in combination, a self-excited exciter for supplying the field-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control iield winding for the exciter clisyposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control eld winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the watts output of the dynamo-electric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the iield winding of the dynamoelectric machine, and means responsive to the differential of said direct current voltages only when said rst direct current voltage is in excess of said second direct current voltage, said last responsive means being disposed in circuit relation with at least one of said impedance circuits for modifying the operation of the voltage network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electric machine. 2. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a load circuit, in combination, a self-excited exciter for supplying the eld-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, acontrol field Winding for the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control field winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the Watts output of the dynamo- .electric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the field winding of the dynamo-electric machine, and a reactor having alternating current and direct current windings, the direct current windings being connected to be energized in response to the diierential Iof said direct current voltages only when said first direct current voltage is in excess of said second direct current voltage, the alternating current windings oi the reactor being connected in circuit relation with at least one of said impedance circuits to modify the operation of the voltage network when the directcurrent windings are energized to maintain at least a predetermined minimiurn excitation of the dynamo-electric machine.

3. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a load circuit, in combination, a self-excited exciter, for supplying the field-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control l'ield winding forv the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed whenY unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control field Winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the watts output of the dynamo-electric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the iield winding of the dynamoelectric machine, and means responsive to' the differential oi said direct current voltages only when said iirst direct current is in excess of lsaid second direct current voltage, said last responsive means being connected in the supply circuit of said non-linear and linear impedance circuits for modifying the operation of the voltage network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electric machine. i

4. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a load circuit, in combination, a self-excited-exciter for supplying the eldexcitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control iield winding for the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control iield Winding, and a reactor connected in the supply circuit of said non-linear and linear impedance circuits, the reactor having a direct current control winding disposed to be' energized in response to the cooperative eiect of the neld voltage and the Watt output of the dynamo-electric machine under predetermined operating conditions of the machine to modify the operation of the voltage'network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dyamo-electric machine.

5. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a'load circuit, in combination, a self-excited exciter forsupplying the iield-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control eld winding for the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control eld winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the watt output of the dynamo-electric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the field winding of thedynamo-electric machine, and a reactor connected in the supply circuit of said non-linear and linear impedance circuits, the reactor having a direct current control Winding disposed to be energized in response to the differential of said direct current voltages only when said first direct current voltage is in excess of said second direct current voltage to. thereby modify the operation of the voltage network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electricmachine.

6. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a load circuit, in combination, a self-'excited exciter for supplying the field-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control field winding for the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simultaneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control eld winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the watt output of the dy namo-electric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the eld winding of the dynamoelectric machine, and a reactor connected in the linear impedance circuit, the reactor having a direct current control winding disposed to be energized in response to the differential of said direct current voltages only when said first direct current voltage is in excess of said second direct current voltage to thereby modify the operation of the voltage network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electric machine.

7. In a regulating system for a dynamo-electric machine disposed to supply a load circuit, in combination, a self-excited exciter for supplying the field-excitation of the dynamo-electric machine, a control field winding for the exciter disposed to be directionally energized, a voltage network comprising a non-linear impedance circuit and a linear impedance circuit connected to be simul- 10 taneously supplied from the load circuit and disposed when unbalanced to control the directional energization of the control field winding, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the watt output of the dynamoelectric machine, means for producing a direct current voltage which is a measure of the voltage across the eld winding of the dynamo-electric machine, and a reactor connected in the nonlinear impedance circuit, the reactor having a direct current control winding disposed to be energized in response to the differential of said di rect current voltages only when said rst direct current voltage is in excess of said second direct current voltage to thereby modify the operation of the voltage network to maintain at least a predetermined minimum excitation of the dynamo-electric machine.

SAMUEL B, GRISCOM.

RAYMOND L. WITZKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,259,135 Hill Oct. 14, 1941 2,396,851 Hyser Mar. 19, 1946 

